Ontex received a Distinguished Citizen (Verdienstelijke Oost-Vlaming) award in Belgium on January 11th, 2020. Belgian Deputy Governor of East Flanders Kurt Moens presented the award at Ontex’ factory in Eeklo, where the company has built capacity to produce 80 million medical face masks per year. Ontex Healthcare Division President Xavier Lambrecht, Eeklo plant manager Jef Monballyu and Belgium HR manager Aeke Van Den Broeke were proud to receive the award on behalf of our more than 9000 employees around the world, who keep producing essential personal hygiene products during the pandemic.
In May, Ontex announced it would beging making face masks by September to support caregivers and other essential workers, including its own employees. The surgical face masks of the IIR type, which are typically used in hospitals, are planned to be produced on a line at Ontex’s factory in Eeklo, Belgium in accordance with applicable regulations. Ontex has ordered specialized machinery and is training staff to get certified for production and start producing face masks in September or earlier. The new production is Ontex’s own initiative and receives no government funding.